This was very much a continuation of the previous lecture. She read parts of the Babylonian creation story and then the Genesis creation story to show the similarities but the more important differences between the two stories.
In the Enuma Elish, we are introduced to gods who are formed out of some primordial substance who create other gods often through some male/female union. These gods are limited in powers often stuck in some natural phenomenon like the water or the sky. These gods war against each other and some die showing that they are not immortal or timeless. At some point one god, in this case Marduk, becomes the main god. And when humans are created they are there to do the work of the gods.
As pointed out in the previous lecture, the Biblical monotheistic world view is quite different from the pagan religions of the people surrounding the ancient Hebrews. God is not formed or at least there is no mention of how he was formed. He was there and had always been there. He is completely powerful and creates everything in a very orderly way, taming the chaos at least to some degree. Nature is under his complete control; there is no god of the sun or moon or volcanoes.
And the creation of humans is something special. Humans are made in the likeness of god, whatever that means, and that gives us a special relationship with god.
At this point, the lecturer seemed to rush through the rest of the lesson. She does talk a little about Adam and Eve, but barely mentions Cain and Abel. I am not sure if she intends to continue in the next lecture as its summary refers to Genesis 5-11.No matter. I have a bunch of thoughts swirling through my head.
It is easy enough to pass on the story as just a made up tale about something that occurred long before the storytellers could make sense of their surroundings. But to do that, would be similar to passing on Homer or Shakespeare or any author for that matter who is telling a story that is not based on exact historical events. I don't believe for a minute that the events that are depicted in the beginning of Genesis happened as recorded. I am not even sure how the original storytellers felt. Most people at various times ask themselves where did I come from, why am I here, where am I going. There is no doubt that these storytellers faced the same questions.
It would be interesting if we were able to listen in on the seminars where questions could be discussed in more detail. For example, the lecturer refers to the verse where humans are created in God's image and says that a long list could be made of what that exactly means. She talks about humans having responsibility, language, free will, abstract thought, etc.
I have wondered if the power to create - artistically, technologically, philosophically - is the most "godlike" attribute we have. Why do humans create? I have no clue. But there is certainly a drive for us to do something more than to just find food and a place to sleep. God's first act (at least the one we are aware of) was to create. So what was he doing before he made this creation? How was he feeling? Was he bored? What triggered this desire to create a world with a bunch of flawed people with the free will to make stupid, harmful, cruel, pointless decisions (as well as good ones)?
And after he has accomplished this task, why did he care enough to continue paying attention? When Picasso painted a picture or Beethoven composed a symphony, or Milton wrote a poem, especially ones that did not turn out exactly how they hoped, did they continue to care or did they move on to the next project. Why isn't God doing the same? He has created something and he may or may not be proud of his efforts but what makes humans think that he cares that much about it (us) that he is still hanging around waiting to see how it turns out?
I suppose I am frustrated by this creation story (whether it is true or not but particularly if it is true) because it is set up for humans to fail. A tree was put in a perfect garden and we were told not to eat from this tree of the knowledge of good and evil, "lest we die". And I am not even sure what is meant by good and evil. While there are universal acts that are obviously good or evil, some acts are not so obvious. For example, is disobedience bad? Disobeying Hitler and hiding Jews during WW11 was obviously not an evil act. But being punished for disobeying God by eating something we weren't supposed to before we even realized that disobedience was wrong (had to eat from the tree to realize that) just seems too bizarre to get my head around.
Far better for me to just accept the fact that there there was no Fall, that people are flawed, that we will do dumb things. While the Biblical creation story makes us feel better because God is in control and there is some orderliness to our existence, I am willing to accept the fact that we are on our own. Random acts, chaotic acts will happen; flawed humans will do bad things often horrible things. The challenge is to learn to overcome as much of those difficulties as we can, to help others in distress, to find solutions to problems not because a god may want us to, but because it is just the right and proper thing to do.
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